JMO: #NetrootsNationFail While Hillary Clinton Wisely Opted Out
When you choose a president, you look, not only at the policy
proposals they put forward, but also at the decisions they take. Last
year, when Netroots Nation was convening, Hillary was on a punishing
book-signing schedule. She signed a book for me on one of those days
and generously gave me every minute I wanted with her (before I began to
feel greedy and thought I should make way for the hundreds behind me
who also had waited patiently in the heat and sun). She met thousands
of voters face-to-face this way. Over the days Netroots Nation was
meeting last year, she might have met as many as 2,000 individuals
face-to-face in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Minnesota. If
most of those people actually read the books they bought, they also got a
glimpse into how Hillary operates in addition to having had a
one-on-one with her. Missing Netroots Nation last year was, in
retrospect, a no-brainer.
Neither did Hillary choose to attend
the progressive free-for-all this year. Other Democratic candidates for
president did. Unfortunately for them, this is what ensued at a key
event yesterday.
Tia
Oso of the Black Immigration Network, center, interrupted Martin
O’Malley during a town hall discussion moderated by Jose Antonio Vargas,
left, at the Netroots Nation conference in Phoenix on Saturday.Credit Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press PHOENIX — A group of protesters repeatedly confronted Senator Bernie Sanders
of Vermont and former Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland during a town
hall discussion with liberal activists here on Saturday, demanding the
Democratic presidential candidates address issues like discrimination
and police brutality.
Chanting, “What side are you on, my people,
what side are you on?” and “Black lives matter,” the demonstrators moved
to the front of the ballroom about 20 minutes into the event as Mr.
O’Malley discussed proposed changes to Social Security.
They remained there, heckling the candidates and posing questions,
until organizers shut down the event, one of the centerpieces of the
annual Netroots Nation conference.
SNIP
Mr.
O’Malley repeatedly tried to answer the demonstrators, saying that, as
president, he would advocate for civilian review boards and other
measures to overhaul the criminal justice system.
SNIP
Mr.
Sanders, taking the stage a few minutes later to a standing ovation
from the audience, tried to respond to the protesters and deliver a
brief stump speech on economic inequality.
“Black
lives, of course, matter,” Mr. Sanders said, answering the chants. “I
spent 50 years of my life fighting for civil rights and dignity, but if
you don’t want me to be here, that’s O.K. I don’t want to out-scream
people.”
I
am not a fan or supporter of either candidate, but I have to wonder
what has become of decorum and respect. What is the point of inviting
candidates to speak to you if you shout them down and prevent them from
delivering their messages? Did the candidates who agreed to speak not
merit the courtesy of being heard? Was it not the task of the organizers to ensure that courtesy?
The other concern, of course,
is security. These are potential presidents. How does a protester get
all the way up on stage next to Martin O'Malley? How is this chaos
permitted to continue for such an extended period of time? How is
disruption tolerated to such a degree that an event central to the
conference is shut down?
Given the events of yesterday, Hillary
Clinton's decision to skip Netroots Nation and instead speak at the
Arkansas Annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner was wise indeed.
Democratic
presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the Democratic
Party of Arkansas Jefferson Jackson dinner in North Little Rock, Ark.,
Saturday, July 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
Democratic
presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the Democratic
Party of Arkansas Jefferson Jackson dinner in North Little Rock, Ark.,
Saturday, July 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
Everyone,
under the First Amendment, has the right to free expression. We have
all at some point protested something. Nothing is wrong with protest.
But event organizers should have plans to protect all
the messages - those of the protesters as well as those of guest
speakers who have agreed to appear at their event. They also have a
duty to protect the messengers. Netroots organizers failed on both
counts yesterday to the disadvantage of those who paid for tickets
specifically to hear these speakers.
Toward the end of the
article, Jenni Siri, who represents Women for Bernie Sanders and New
Mexico for Bernie Sanders, is quoted as saying of Hillary, “Her not
being here almost looks like she’s thumbing her nose at the event.
..She’s acting like it’s not a big deal.”
Nose-thumbing is not an
activity in which Hillary Clinton indulges. In fact, it is impossible
to imagine her engaging in a behavior so undiplomatic and impolite.
What Hillary Clinton does do is assess her options. Her decision to
head for a Democratic Party dinner in a state that once was her blue
home and lately has been leaning red as a savvy one. Had she headed
for Phoenix instead, would anyone have had a chance to hear what she had
to say?
I am not saying she can foresee the future or knew what
would happen in Phoenix, but she does size up the pros and cons. She
made a wise decision.
